VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

by Derek Toney

Anthony Oquendo said the first few weeks of December has been frustrating. But the St. Frances Academy senior gave himself and the Panther boys' basketball squad an early Christmas present Sunday afternoon.

Oquendo's 10 points and 12 rebounds were a major boost as the No. 2 Panthers defeated top-ranked Mount St. Joseph, 57-51, before a packed audience on Chase Street. St. Frances maintained its share of first place in the MIAA A Conference with Loyola Blakefield (3-0).

Senior guard/forward Sean Mosley again carried the scoring burden for the Panthers (9-2, 3-0) with a game-high 29 points. Junior guard Eric Atkins led Mount St. Joseph (6-1, 2-1) with 17 points and five steals, and senior Henry Sims added 12 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots.

The University of Maryland-bound Mosley hit six free throws in the final 40 seconds, helping to solidify the east Baltimore school claim to No. 1. Oquendo's baseline jumper over an oncoming Sims gave St. Frances the lead for good early in the final quarter, part of a 10-0 run.

"He was frustrated because he missed a lot of layups in the first half," said Mosley, who scored 14 in the final eight minutes. "I just him he had to play through that, don't fall into the quick sand. He came back out and hit some big shots."

 "I saw my point guard [Ronald Williams] come down the paint and my man go inside the basket, so I just kick it out," said Oquendo, a six foot, four inch senior forward. "We're getting better as a team, and everybody's playing their role."

Oquendo has been coping with tenditis that caused him to miss St. Frances' first couple of games. Panthers coach William Wells had been anticipating his return to help as an additional safety valve to Mosley for a relatively young squad. After a slow start Sunday, St. Frances more than held its own against an experienced Gaels' squad.

A three-point play by Sims sparked Mount St. Joseph late in the third quarter as junior Matt Miller followed with a three-pointer and layup by Atkins put it ahead, 34-32. Sims, a 6-10 center headed to Georgetown, completed a 10-0 surge with a tip-in, but the Gaels didn't score again until midway in the fourth period.

Four free throws by Mosley got the Panthers even at 36 before Oquendo's jumper broke the tie. Oquendo again took advantage of penetration by Williams (six assists) and drained another a jumper off the baseline, giving the Panthers a 44-38 advantage.

"The last three games he hasn't been playing well," said St. Frances coach William Wells. "I told him if there's ever a day we need to you to play, today was it. His points and rebounding was a plus for us."

"Their other kids really stepped up and played well for them," said Mount St. Joseph coach Pat Clatchley, whose team next action will be at the Leon Brodgen Tournament in Wilmington, North Carolina. "They just smothered Henry and it wasn't easy get to him touches. We played well in the third quarter, but you got to play for 32 minutes."

Oquendo said his tenditis has been "a monkey on his back." The Panthers now have the weight of No. 1, heading into holidays. St. Frances will head to Richmond Wednesday for the Benedictine Tournament which starts Thursday.

"It really doesn't make a difference," said Oquendo. "We have to play our hardest every game, no matter who we play or where we go."    

St. Frances 57, Mount St. Joseph 51
Mount St. Joseph: Atkins 17, McCoy 6, Hill 2, Olsen 9, Sims 12, Miller 3, Turner 2. Totals 18 11-19 51.
St. Frances: Mosley 30, Lewis 4, Rogers 2, Williams 5, Oquendo 10, Jones 1, Sparrow 6. Totals 17 19-24 57. Halftime: St. Frances 25, Mount St. Joseph 20.